Defence

Snapshot

In the know

Minster for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson MP, gets a taste of life as a pilot at the announcement of the acquisition by Australia of 24 F/A-18F Block II Super Hornet multi-role aircraft at RAAF Base Fairbairn. At a cost of approximately $6 billion over 10 years, the acquisition of the Super Hornet will ensure the transition to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter over the next decade. The Super Hornet provides Australia with the greatest capability enhancement and least risk option to ensure Australia’s capability edge.

Local Afghans watch on with curiosity as an Australian Bushmaster vehicle lends a hand to tow a local man and his tractor in southern Afghanistan. A contingent of Australian Defence Force personnel is working in Afghanistan as part of the Netherlands-led Provincial Reconstruction Team under the NATO International Security Assistance Force’s Stage III expansion into southern Afghanistan.

Corporal Garry Connolly and Thunder from Queensland-based 44^th Military Police in Oakey, as part of the Anzac Battle Group, hard at work during a training session at Heli Port, Dili. The members from the Military Working Dog detachment in Timor-Leste play a crucial role in the security operations of the country. The handler and dog teams work as a single unit and rely on each other during operations. Their contribution is rightfully described as a ‘Force Multiplier’ as they can significantly magnify the efficiency of patrols on security duties such as patrols, crowd control and searches.

Defence scholarships

Defence, in association with AFS Intercultural Programs Australia, is providing eight full scholarships for the children of Defence employees to live and study overseas an exchange students in 2008.

You are eligible to apply if you are:

• the child of a Navy, Army, Air Force or Department of Defence employee (children of reserve members on full–time service are also eligible); and,
• attending Year 9, 10, 11 or 12 in secondary school in 2007.

Each scholarship covers:

• international and domestic travel;
• placement with a carefully selected host family who will provide full board;
• placement in a school, including school fees;
• medical insurance; and,
• 24 hour global emergency support by AFS, a world leader in international student exchange.

Closing date for expressions of interest is Friday 27 April 2007.

For more information and to register your interest, visit the education section of the Defence Community Organisation website at http://www.defence.gov.au/dco/.

Alternatively, visit the AFS web site at www.afs.org.au for further information.

The Senior Officer Professional Digest

In 2002, the Land Warfare Studies Centre began producing a monthly digest of contemporary readings from military, strategic, professional and academic journals, the Senior Officer Professional Digest (‘the SOPD’). The SOPD brings together the best of cutting-edge research, analysis and commentary from a variety of hardcopy and electronic sources. As then–Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter Cosgrove wrote in the first SOPD: ‘Reading is an intellectual force multiplier for the military profession’.

Initially designed and conceived for senior Australian Army officers, the SOPD has proved so successful and accessible that it is now distributed to Senior Executives in all branches and Services, as well as international militaries, academics and policy-makers. You can download the SOPD from www.defence.gov.au/army/LWSC or receive it automatically by sending an email to lwsc.publications@defence.gov.au.

The current Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, wrote: ‘Since it was first published, the … SOPD has proven to be very popular, which suggests it is indeed meeting a vital requirement of Army’s senior officers.’

Upcoming reunion

A reunion of former or serving members of any mustering who served at RAAF Base Ballarat School of Radio is to be held from 27 February to 2 March 2008. The venue will be Ballarat.

Interested members can email radschl.reunion@gmail.com or call Phil Marsh on 0416 099 464 or mail to RADS Reunion, 17 North Ave, Leichhardt, NSW 2040.

Photos provided by Public Affairs

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